Improvement in shifting-top rails for carriages



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIon.

CHARLES H, AYRES, OF HIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF HIS'RIGHT TO S. TIOE AYRES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIFTING-TOP RAILS FOR CARRIAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,928 dated October 8, 1872.

'full, clear, and exact description of the same,

which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use my said invention.

My-invention consists of an improved shifting-toprail for buggies, which is securely fastened to the top of the seat by hooks, pins or bolts, and eyes or staples, so arranged that by drawing the hooks, bolts, or pins out of the eyes or staples the top can be lifted off. After the top is removed the vehicle can be used as an open-topped buggy, no trace of the rail remaining. The eyes or staples and catches may be made to drop down.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buggy-seat, showing my rail attachment; Figs. 2 and 3, cross-sectional views, showing the form of staples through which the hooks, pins, or bolts pass, and the form of catch.

' A, Fig. 1, is the buggy-seat; B, the sides; 0, the shifting-top rail O, the foot of the rail which is attached to the top of the seat A; I), hooks; H, staples or eyes attached to the seat A, through which the hooks D pass; I, nuts to secure the staples or eyes H in place; K, Figs. 1 and 3, the catches; L, nuts and washers to secure said catches in place, and

-to tighten and draw them down when the hooks, pins, or bolts work looselyin them. F and G, Fig.1, are the points at which the bow of the top is secured.

The eyes or staples H and catches K can be made so as to drop down flush with the top of the seatwhen not in use.

When it is desired to attach the top to the buggy-seat it is placed directly on the top of the seat, the catches K having lips, which clamp over or impinge upon the foot C of the rail and hold it in place; the eyes or staples H, at the same time, pass up through a slot or opening in the rail-foot O, and the hooks D are then hooked into these staples or eyes H, and the buggy-top is securely and firmly held in place. If hook D works loosely in eye or staple H, said staple may be made tight by screwing up nut I, and catches K may be tightened in the same manner. Pins or bolts may be substituted for hooks D, though I ma fer the hooks. The top is detached by push ing back the hooks and lifting it 0d. The upright bars 0 C of the rail do not touch the side .of the seat, the whole support of the buggytop being the foot 0, held in place by the hooks and catches.

The hooks D may of course be substituted for catches K; or these catch es might enter an opening in foot 0 and slide in a slot cut from said opening, the lips on the catch holding the foot down.

The ,foot 0 may be of any desired shape, and may fit in a grooved recess formed in the seat, so that when the top rail is attached the top of the seat may be an even surface to receive the cushion.

I am well aware that shifting-top rails have been heretofore made for buggies, said rail being fastened to the seat or under it but Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Rails 0 G, constructed as described, and

having hooks, bolts, or pins D, in combination with staples H and catches K on the seat A, for shifting. the rail, substantially as described.

CHARLES H. AYRES.

Witnesses:

HENRY DYE,

EZEKIEL HAMMELL. 

